New Ulm weekly review., 1887-03-02
FRANZ PROMISE.

FRANZ PROMISE,
From the Cornhill Magazine.
PAKTI.
"Franz, how about the Lyskamm
tomorrow The weather looks set
tied.''
''Ihe weather is good, Herr, but"
"But what, Franz"
Il do not like the Lyskamm."
"And why don't you like the Lys-
kamm, Franz"
..Herr, there is a fearful cornice
this year"
'We'H take our chance ofthat. We
cant teh what it's like till we try, and
II we find it too bad we can ALWAYS
turn back. When must we start?"
1T will be time If we leave here at
g."
"Good! Then you'll call us about 1.
Guten Abend, Franz"
"Guten Abend, Herr; schlafen sic
wohl.''
The above conversation took place
one exquisite August evening outside
the old Riffel Hotel. Table d'hote
was over, and the usual assembIage
of climbers, guides and others were
there, watching the declining light of
a glorious sunset fading slowly away
'Eom the mighty precipices OF the Mat
sterhorn, and from the other SUBMITS
of that, to my mind, the grandest
range in all the Alps.
The season up to that time had not
bee n a good one, and but little climb
ing had been done, but with the pro-
spects of good weather, of which that
morning had given unmistakable
promise, every one took heart, and
the number OF expeditions that were
at once planned for the following day
was something astonishing.
Every available guide was "book-
~ed,' and the courteous lady who at
that time presided over the Riffel was
at her wits ends to know where to &C
:commodate all who asked that night
Tor sleeping-space. myself was not a
novice at climbing, having spent sew
seral seasons in the Alps, and for some
years had been a member of the AL
pine Club. had been up most Of the
great peaks around Zermatt, but I
had nos yet assembled the Lyskamm
ia, S89 feet), and it was for the pur-
pose OF doing the Lyskamm that had
come to the Riffel.
l was accompanied by g. fellow
'member of the Alpine Club named
Burns, an admirable climber and a
charming companion, and I had my
guide Franz, who had been with me on
most OF my previous expeditions, and
in whose steadiness AMI skill had
reason to have the greatest con-
sfidence. Franz wss man of forty or
so, tall, and OF splendid physique,
with g. good, honest, weather. beaten
'countenance, and to which long mus
tache gave a. somewhat military ap-
pearance. -
In intelligence he was greatly superb
or to the ordianry run OF guides, for
he could talk we'll upon other subjects
besides the one topic Of mountains.
Burns and l, being in some favor
with the authorities at the Riffel, were
fortunate in getting a room to our
selves; but q score or so of travellers,
for whom no other space could be
found, had to repose as best they
could OH the floor OF the saloon, and
lucky were they who could secure
mattress, for even mattresses gave out
at last.
We turned in early; but, as can
never sleep on the eve of an expedi-
tion, [ was not sorry when Franz
KNOCK: soon after 1 clock, warned us
that it was time for us to be up.
This getting up is, think, the most
disagreeablepar OF an expedition.
l have a particular objection to
dressing in bad light, feeling all the
while only half awake and-but low
Abe it spoken-more than half disposed
to envy those who are not leaving
their beds at such an unearthly hour.
l dislike, too, the early breakfast
a melancholy meal, to be got over as
expedltious]y as possible; and, on this
point, every one seems to be agreed,
for at the Riffel, at5all events, I have
observed that 1t is usually despatched
sin solemn silence. The very look of
the sleepy servant who brings in the
coffee exercises a depressing influence,
as we'll it may s,os b..
Then there is thatgetting into boots
Afor am not one OF those inconsider-
ate individuals who puts his on up.
stairs and. comes pounding down, to
the detriment Of sleep in those who do
not happen to be getting up so early),
and boots, to begin with, feel hard, if
not absolutely uncomfortable!
But, after all, what are these minor
tdisagreea bles besidethe extraordinary
amount OF pleasure thatis TO be got
out Of climbing? They perhaps make
it all the pleasanrer if we did but
know it,
We were rather earlier than the ma
iiority, but there were two or three
sieepy-looking individuals in the break
.Slast-room. evidently novicess bound